A ride to the top of the Washington Monument is a must see if family travel takes you to Washington DC. The Washington Monument at 555 feet towers over everything in DC. From the top you will enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Robert Mills designed this obelisk to honor our first President and father of our country, George Washington. The world’s tallest masonry structure when it was built in 1884, it’s still visible from points throughout the city.
Reserve Tickets in Advance
A visit to the top of the Washington Monument is a must.
My best piece of advice is to secure your tickets for the Washington Monument through the National Park service well in advance. Admission to the monument is free, but tickets are required and they can be reserved for $1.50 each. All individuals, including children, must have tickets to the Washington Monument.
To reserve tickets in advance, visit the National Park Service ticket website at www.recreation.gov, or call 1.877.444.6777 for individual tickets or 1.877.559.6777 for group reservations. There is a $1.50 service charge per ticket. These tickets may be picked up at the “will call” window of the Washington Monument Lodge on the day of your tour.
Same Day Tickets
I tried to get tickets a little over a month in advance for spring break, which also happens to be at the height of the Cherry Blossom Festival. They told me they had no tickets available until late June. All is not lost, however, if like me you fail to acquire your tickets in advance. A limited number of same day tickets are available to the public each day (closed July 4 and December 25). To have a chance for these tickets, one must line up at the Washington Monument Lodge, a small building which sits out in front of the monument. It opens at 8:30 a.m. for same day timed tickets. These tickets are handed out on a first come first serve basis. One person may pick up as many at six tickets. During peak season tickets run out quickly and the line for tickets forms at 7 a.m. or earlier. This is very true. The first day we tried for tickets, they ran out. A couple days later, my husband took the metro down a little before 7 a.m. and got in line. He was able to get our tickets. This ended up being a better day anyway as it was totally clear, not a cloud in the sky.
View of the Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin from the top.
Hours
Summer Hours: May 31-September 6, the monument is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the last tour beginning before 9:45 p.m..
Rest of Year: The monument is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last tour beginning before 4:45 p.m.
The Washington Monument is closed July 4 and December 25.
View of the White House from the top.
Visiting the Observatory
A 70-second elevator ride takes visitors to the 500-foot level for spectacular views of the city. Be sure to check out the view from each direction. To the east is the Capitol, to the west is the Lincoln Memorial, to the north is the White House, and to the south is the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. On your way back down, be sure to look through the window in the elevator and you can see 193 memorial stones presented by individuals, societies, cities, States, and nations of the world.
Be aware that certain items are prohibited while visiting the observatory including animals (except certified guide dogs), suitcases, large backpacks, guns, knives, strollers, mace, aerosol cans, food or drink. There are no storage facilities available.
Just for Kids
The Washington Monument is part of National Park Service. All of our national parks host Junior Ranger programs for children. Print out a copy of the National Mall Junior Ranger booklet for your child(ren) before visiting Washington DC.
For more on the Washington Monument, visit nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
